The names of players Arsenal might try and sign this January transfer window continue to stream, with Sebastian Giovinco of Juventus being the next one that comes to light.
According to Italian journalist Gianluca di Marzio, Arsenal have contacts the player’s agent, hoping to start and smooth things over towards a transfer that will bring the “Atomic ant” from Turin to London.
Giovinco is one of the players most hurt by the arrivals of Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez over the summer. The 26-year old who was a first team regular in the past has played only 8 times in the league this season for Juventus. In six of those matches he came off the bench, and only once was he used for the entire 90 minutes. He has one goal and assist to his name this season, which has mostly been about sitting frustrated on the bench.
Juventus have already sold one of their strikers, Alessandro Matri, who wasn’t about to rot away on the sidelines this season. With Fabio Quagliarella and Mirko Vucinic also looking to find minutes, it’s quite difficult to see Giovinco seeing his status upgraded as long as Juventus continue to play in the current system, which doesn’t offer him a place on the wing instead of the supporting striker role he’s used to.
At Arsenal, minutes might not be easier to come by, but the injury to Theo Walcott does concern Arsene Wenger, who would like to add another speedy forward who can play in central and wide positions, like Giovinco can. He is signed until 2015 for Juventus, which means they might not put up much of a fight if he wishes to leave. He’s valued at around £10 million.
One issue that might cause concern for Arsenal is Giovinco’s size, standing at only 5’5 (1.64 meters). He’ll be the shortest player in the Premier League and some might argue that he’ll have a very hard time handling the physicality and size of Premier League defenses.